PD-L1 and PD-L2 Mutations in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma: Do They Have Any Prognostic Significance?

Reed-Sternberg cells can escape from the immune system by enhancement of the expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2. The aim of the present study was to investigate the significance and gene mutations in childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma's (HL). The study included 39 pediatric classical HL cases. and mutations were determined by Sanger sequencing. Clinicopathological parameters were obtained from patients' records. Eight cases (20.5%) showed p.R260C mutations, and three (7.7%) p.R234L in the exome 5 of gene. None of the cases had mutations. p.R260C mutation exhibited a significant relationship with older age and nodular sclerosing (NS) histology and was associated with longer event free survival. Although mutational status did not show statistically significance with well-established prognostic factors, our preliminary data indicate that p.R260C mutation of gene may be associated with longer event free survival in older patients and NS histology in pediatric HL.